2-1. Med. Hist. viii. 8. Van Loon, I. 869. Pemb.
Cat. P. 4. T. 88. Bizot, p. 57.
MB. J t . Bibl. Paris, JR. Gotha, JR. St. Petersburg,
,51. Bare.
Van Loon supposes this medal to have been struck by some
over-zealous reformers and partisans of Leicester, who offered
the government to Elizabeth; and throws a mystery over the
termination of the legend as implying more than the suppliants
dare express. Now in size, style, taste and workmanship, as
well as mint mark, it corresponds with other medals struck at this
period by order of the States; it can then scarcely be considered
as the production of a party cabal, but a fair expression of the
sentiments of the Provinces. They successfully claimed the
aid of Elizabeth and were thankful; and, considering Leicester
the champion of their cause, they introduce him in that
character upon the medal. The legend terminates abruptly for
want of space, and because the meaning was sufficiently intelligible.
The reverse symbolizes the defeat of the Papal party
in the Provinces.
100. L e i c e s t e r q u i t s B e lg i u m . 1587.
Bust of Leicester, three-quarters, I., in hat with feathers and
jewels, and armour richly figured. Leg. r o b e . co . l e i c . e t .
IN . BELG . GVBER . 1587.
Rev. Sheep in flat country, a dog quitting them, beneath
which is inscribed, i n v i t v s d e s e r o . (I quit unwillingly.) Leg.
NON , GREGEM . s e d . i n g b a t o s . (Not the flock, but the ungrateful.)
.
1-9, Med. Hist. viii. 1 . Van Loon, I. 375. Kohler
XVI. .385. Lochner, VIII. 177.
MB. M. Hunter, M. Gotha, JR. Munich, JEt,
Bare.
Cast and chased. This medal, as figured in Lochner, has on
the obverse legend, g y b e r n a t . for g v b e r .
This and the following medals are always cast ; contemporaneous
ones are very ra re ; modern ones, less sharp, are
more common and of no value. Leicester had been created in
1586 Governor and Captain-General of Holland, Zealand and
the United Provinces. (See No. 90, p. 134.) His conduct,
however, created much dissatisfaction and suspicion, and the
States complained of it to the Queen, and, taking advantage of
his temporary absence, conferred the command of the armies
upon Maurice, second son of the late Prince of Orange.
Leicester, irritated and thwarted, quitted the Provinces and
distributed these medals amongst his friends. Some are said
to have been ot gold, but none such are known to exist.
101. L e i c e s t e r q u i t s B e lg i u m . 1587.
Bust of Leicester, three-quarters, I., &c.; same as the preceding.
Rev. Sheep in hilly country, a dog quitting them ; beneath,
INVITS (sic) DESERO. I jCg. NON . GREGEM . SED . INGRATOS.
m. m. Cross.
1'.9. Perry, Supp. ii. 3.
MB. JR. Extremely rare.
Cast. A variety of the preceding.
102. L e i c e s t e r q u i t s B e lg i u m . 1587.
Bust of Leicester, three-quarters, r., in hat with feathers, no
jewels, armour slightly ornamented. Leg. r o b e r t v s d v d l e i v s
com l e v c . b e l g GVBR. Below, monogram of a . k . , incuse,
(Anton Koenig ?)
Rev. Sheep in hilly country, &c.; similar to the preceding,
but INVITVS DESPRO (sic).
1*9. Med. Hist. viii. 2. Van Loon, I. 375. Luckius
300,
MB. JR. Hunter, JR. Stockholm, JR.
Cast and chased. This, medal is not of the time, but
probably an imitation of the last century. The artist’s name
is therefore somewhat uncertain. The specimen in the Stockholm
Museum has the inscription, i n v i t v s d e s e r o .